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What is an Emergency Plan?

A Fair Emergency Plan should be produced to formally address the different types of problems that can take place on your fairgrounds, during the fair and throughout the year. If you only host a fair, your plan will be different to the societies that not only host a fair but many other events as well as renting out parts of the grounds.

Certain issues, especially weather-related ones can impact a fair of any size.

Because of this, it is always best to have in place a plan that can identify the potential problems and outline scenarios that can guide the society through the process. By identifying hazards, many can be reduced or eliminated entirely.

This plan is only a guide; each individual society should identify potential issues and plan how they could deal with them. For example those close to military bases could have different emergencies than those who are in a tornado alley. As this plan will need to be updated frequently, it is best if members of the society take an active role in the original creation of the plan.

It does take time and the expertise of all the society, as they alone know the workings of the fair and grounds. Municipal departments (e.g. Fire, public health, etc) as well as other resources can be used to develop your plan. We also hope by using the following step-by-step information sheet, the accompanying Emergency Sample Plan and the Animal Emergency Plan Evacuation Guideline (Click links to download) your society can create an Emergency Plan specific to your needs.

STEP-BY-STEP INFORMATION SHEET

Step One: Know what plans are already in place

Check with your municipality.

Have they a plan in place for community gatherings?

Can it be adjusted to include your fair?

Fairgrounds are often included in other emergency plans as they have large open areas, and multi-purpose buildings so be aware of other plans together stronger plans can be created.

Check with the fire and police departments

Step Two: Identify your needs

What are the problems that can occur at your fair and on your grounds?